Health officials: Zoo, weather spread E. coli

By Matthew Tessnear / mtessnear@shelbystar.com

Published: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 01:39 PM.

“This final analysis indicates those who visited the petting zoo were much more likely to get sick,” said Jennifer MacFarquhar of NCDHHS, the lead investigator in the E. coli outbreak probe. “Those who fed animals were even more likely to get sick.”

Which animals were the source?

The petting zoo animals came from Circle G Ranch Petting Zoo in eastern Tennessee, according to O. Max Gardner III, an attorney for the county fair association.

At the outbreak’s peak, 106 people were battling E. coli symptoms – more than half of them 18 or younger, more than a dozen hospitalized and seven battling a disorder than causes kidney failure. Two-year-old Gage Lefevers died due to complications from E. coli symptoms.

“The outbreak strain we could match to people was found in soil predominantly in the petting zoo area, but not in other animal areas,” Williams said. “It supports the idea by some means or another, which we don’t know now exactly how, the E. coli was transmitted in the area of the petting zoo.”

The Cleveland County Fair petting zoo was the source of an E. coli outbreak that sickened more than 100 and led to the death of a toddler, health officials said Friday.

Consistent heavy rains during this year’s fair may have also played a role in spreading contamination by washing waste products to nearby parking lots and walking areas, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

However, a state health investigation found no evidence county fair officials broke any laws or guidelines that govern health and safety precautions at fairs, said Evelyn Foust, of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

How was the source discovered?

Following the illness outbreak that began in early October, health officials conducted studies to determine what caused at least 106 people to get sick.

More than 260 people – both ill and healthy – were interviewed, and the state took 47 environmental soil samples at spots across the Cleveland County Fairgrounds – including an animal milking booth, the petting zoo and at restrooms, according to health officials. Nine of those samples – all from the petting zoo area and nearby – exhibited positive results of the presence of E. coli bacteria, said Carl Williams of NCDHHS.

“This final analysis indicates those who visited the petting zoo were much more likely to get sick,” said Jennifer MacFarquhar of NCDHHS, the lead investigator in the E. coli outbreak probe. “Those who fed animals were even more likely to get sick.”

Which animals were the source?

The petting zoo animals came from Circle G Ranch Petting Zoo in eastern Tennessee, according to O. Max Gardner III, an attorney for the county fair association.

At the outbreak’s peak, 106 people were battling E. coli symptoms – more than half of them 18 or younger, more than a dozen hospitalized and seven battling a disorder than causes kidney failure. Two-year-old Gage Lefevers died due to complications from E. coli symptoms.

“The outbreak strain we could match to people was found in soil predominantly in the petting zoo area, but not in other animal areas,” Williams said. “It supports the idea by some means or another, which we don’t know now exactly how, the E. coli was transmitted in the area of the petting zoo.”

Where does the fair go from here?

The fairgrounds closed to the public Oct. 22, two weeks after the fair’s end and more than a week after the E. coli outbreak began.

Parts of the fairgrounds are expected to reopen after the first of the year, Gardner said.

But the fair won’t host animals again until a newly forming health and agriculture task force convenes to further study the outbreak and recommend the best safe practices for conducting fair exhibits, said fairgrounds manager Calvin Hastings.

“Hopefully, we can continue with animal exhibits,” Hastings said, adding that agricultural fairs have been an important part of American heritage for more than 150 years and Cleveland County heritage for 88 years.

Could another outbreak happen?

Williams said 45 annual agriculture-sanctioned fairs operate across the state. Most have petting zoos, he said, but most don’t have E. coli outbreak issues.

“Any petting zoo, if not properly managed, can be the origin of an outbreak,” he said. “We need to focus on safe practices at all petting zoos.”

Foust said a task force composed of agriculture, health and fair officials will continue to study health regulations for fairs and activities fairs offer to develop improved safety measures for future events in Cleveland County and across the state.

“Despite the most stringent of regulations, the transmission of E. coli at county fairs will be possible, and hand-washing will always been important,” Foust said. “We want people to continue enjoying life and be able to return to the fair.”

Reach Matthew Tessnear at 704-669-3331, at mtessnear@shelbystar.com or on Twitter @MatthewTessnear.